Stimulants Stimulant medication and heart attack

[motiv311]

I have a good friend who is 54, very healthy, slender, works out everyday etc.. etc...

Anyway my 54 friend has taken adderall, concerta, vyvanse infrequently for maybe ten years now.... Never had his own script though. Two years ago he suffered a heart attack which required angio-plasty surgery with 4 stents to fix.. During that whole ordeal he asked the doctor if his heart attack was related to the stimulant usage and the doctor said it had nothing to do with stimulants but everything to do with high cholesterol (which runs the family i guess)


I know its probably not a great idea by my buddy thinks he needs to obtain a legitimate script for a low-dose vyvanse program.... but given his age and his previous heart attack -

Do you believe any US doctors would honestly prescribe this?

 

[woamotive]

I don't know. I guess the fact that he's been taking stims for a decade, essentially 'illegally', doesn't play in his favor.

However, he seems honest - I'd say give it a shot. There is nothing to lose, really. He is taking them w/o a script anyway so it's not like if they say 'no' he'll lose a script. If they say YES, however, he'll not have to take them illegally anymore.

He must have a reason to take them for so long - what is it? Does he feel he has ADD or ADHD? Is he obese? Many doctors prescribe stims to older folks who are overweight, as a weight loss aid.

 

[BrokedownPalace]

His illegal usage and prior cardiac issues certainly are not in his favor, but we cannot tell you how to go about obtaining a prescription. Your friend's best bet is to speak with his doctor and be honest.. If he has legitimate issues that can be treated using prescription stimulants, than the doctor should not have a problem treating him..

We aren't here to help you say the right things to score a script for anything. Be honest, and nine times out of ten things will work out in your favor..

 

[motiv311]

oh yeah... i told him to be honest... and such. I don't need advice about how to doctor shop or any nonsense like that. Just more curious about the Doctors more likely opinion - whether the heart attack simply rules out the vyvanse script...

he's fifty-four, and he is the CEO of a pretty major corporation (millionaire) --- he says that as he gets older he's simply way way more tired , lethargic , has trouble thinking. THe doctor already prescribed Provigil, but that wasn't cutting it.

He probably has "slight" add, but we've already discussed this and; simply put doctors will not prescribe stimulants (besides provigil) for lethagy. So its his lethargy which mainly contributes to his inability to focus.

Is it safe though? as long as he's on a low dose- and keeps taking his beta-blockers and blood-thiners will he be alright?

How much would stimulants play in to the whole post-heart attack deal?

 

[wooger]

I am by no means an expert but someone who has had a heart attack and wants to take powerful stimulant drugs seems pretty dangerous.

I think drugs like amphetamine put enough strain on the heart of a healthy person let alone people who have incured significant damage to it! If he was taking them for a medical reason maybe a chat with his dr may uncover a more viable alternative!

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I don't think a heart attack would automatically rule-out stimulants as a medication.

I would suggest to your friend he get documentation for ADD/ADHD, as without a viable medical need, most doctors might shy away from wanting to prescribe him medication.

If he doesn't abuse stimulants, and is at a medicinal dosage, I don't think that it would be bad on his heart at all. This is just my opinion from taking dexedrine with already high blood pressure, the medication seems to calm me down; any increase in heart rate/blood pressure from the medication does not seem to be troubling on my cardiovascular system.

He should stay way from cocaine, as well as IVing stimulants. He should also probably avoid MDMA/MDA as well. However, a low dosage of vyvanse wouldn't be that bad for him IMO.

 

[PsychedelicPsych]

I am not personally calling your friend down but in all that I have read things do not look good in regards to him obtaining a script. I say this because I have heard many cases of even legitimately diagnosed adult add/hd patients being denied adderal/Dexedrine and being "lucky" to get a Ritalin script. So much stigma and frankly at times for good reason but it does suck for the legitimate users. Subjective mental diseases can be troublesome for patients and docs alike. Amps have a harsh past. Many look at the earlier half of the 19th century, viet nam and board housewives of the 70's when amps (Benzedrine and dextro amp in particular) were given out for whatever ailed you but commonly weight loss and lack of energy and many attribute this to a cornucopia of addiction and health issues that were almost epidemic in nature. So all I have to say is good luck and I hope that stims or not his heart related issues abide him. All the best !

 

[opiatekrzy]

me at age 25 and 10yrs of abusing stimulants and getting hooked on coke, i really have had moments where id take a blast of rock and feel like im gonna have a heart attack and really think im gonna die, maybe its a panic attack, or a close call, same with IVing cocaine, id do too much and the ear ringer was so intense i was mute to just ringing, and threw myself on the snow jumped out the car to cool off, as i lay there i figured i was gonna have my heart bust and die, very scary, i really believe a hit of good crack can kill any1 young or old. far as stims for older people, i really feel they are sooooo likely at risk of sudden death or heart attack,

 

[Lady Codone]

As long as his blood pressure and cholesterol levels are in check, I see no issue with medicinal use of stimulants. (NOT the same as stimulant abuse or recreational use). Would definitely take some days off and make sure not to exercise while on stims.

In the end, it depends on how badly the heart was damaged from the heart attack and whether a doctor would be willing to prescribe. Stims aren't excessively dangerous when taken as prescribed.

 

[MrRoot]

If he truly is a millionare he can acquire them easily by just handing the cash over a pill mill doctor. My relative is a millionaire too (waiting for him to die lol ) and just pays for 60 minutes visit instead of 15 minutes he actually uses when seeing his Dr to get her fix.

 

[Korn3x]

If he truly is a millionare he can acquire them easily by just handing the cash over a pill mill doctor. My relative is a millionaire too (waiting for him to die lol ) and just pays for 60 minutes visit instead of 15 minutes he actually uses when seeing his Dr to get her fix.

ya i second that. if he really is a millioniare he should have no problem, if he has his mind set on it, in finding a legitimate prescription. shit if he's that rich i'm sure he can just illegally acquire a decent amount w/out the need for a Rx. If he has a legitimate problem tho with ADD he really should get diagnosed. stimulant medications aren't really given for long tern treatment tho, and at his age, does he really need the medication that badly? i mean adderall is good and all, but if you really don't have classes/schoolwork there's a lot better treatment options that are available that will be better for long-term treatment. (altho, now that i think about it, being 54, i guess he could go on treatment until he decided to retire, since this would be his first diagnosis and treatment plan)

also, do you know if he is currently taking any other medications? like medication for his cholesterol?

 

[motiv311]

Yeah He's taking a ton of things like prescription aspirin, lipitor, these concentrated B vitamins, propanolol, and nitrates just in case of an emergency.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

In addition to speaking to his doctor, your friend should speak to a cardiologist and, ideally, get all the usual tests done before getting the prescription.

Any history of heart disease or attacks is a huge red flag for somebody considering stimulants. CH is right, avoid cocaine at all costs. I wouldn't take amphetamines/methylphenidate (Ritalin) either, until he's been given full testing by a cardiologist.